172: Chapter 172 Neither side is better

Ye Fan could sense his position, but every time he threw a punch, Ji Zi had already disappeared. Within the Void Realm, palm prints struck from all directions like a violent storm, leaving Ye Fan overwhelmed.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang—"

The sounds of dense collisions exploded on the Arena like rain hitting plantain leaves. Ye Fan's fists swung to the limit, his golden fist light weaving an airtight barrier in front of him to block the palm prints one by one.

But his footsteps were retreating—one step, two steps, three steps.

Around the Arena, the Disciples watched in stunned silence.

"The Imperial Son is too strong!"

"What Secret Technique is that? His figure can't be captured at all!"

"Ye Fan is being suppressed! He keeps retreating!"

The Holy Lord of the Ji Family watched the battle on the Arena, his eyes filled with gratification.

The Great Void Technique, the supreme Secret Technique left by the ancestor, had reappeared in the hands of the Imperial Son.

Although he was still young and his Cultivation Base was still low, his control over the Void Realm and that innate talent were already fully revealed.

Ji Haoyue watched the battle on the Arena with complex emotions. He had also practiced the Great Void Technique, but he never imagined this Secret Technique could be so powerful.

The Imperial Son's understanding of the Void Realm far exceeded his imagination.

That wasn't something that could be obtained through hard cultivation; it was talent, it was Bloodline—no, the Imperial Son had already given up his Bloodline. That was his Comprehension Ability, his own essence.

Ji Ziyue's gaze closely followed the golden figure on the Arena. Ye Fan was retreating and taking a beating; she could see it. Her heart was in her throat, and her hands were clenched even tighter.

Ye Fan was indeed retreating.

He found himself in a predicament—he could capture Ji Zi's position, but every time he punched, Ji Zi had already left. He wasn't fast enough, and his reactions couldn't keep up with the other's rhythm.

At this rate, he would simply be worn down to death.

Ye Fan took a deep breath and stopped his retreat.

He no longer tried to pursue Ji Zi or capture his position. He simply stood there and closed his eyes.

Ji Zi's figure shuttled through the Void Realm as palm prints struck from all directions. Ye Fan didn't Move, allowing the palm prints to land on his body.

"Bang, bang, bang—"

One palm print after another slammed into his body, making him sway and causing blood to spill from the corner of his mouth. But he didn't Move, still standing in place with his eyes closed.

Around the Arena, everyone was stunned.

"What is he doing?"

"Why isn't he fighting back? Has he given up?"

"He's taking a beating! He's taking a beating on purpose!"

Ji Ziyue's heart tightened. Ye Fan, what are you doing? Fight back!

Ji Haoyue's brow furrowed. He didn't believe Ye Fan would give up; how could the youth who had fought him to a draw admit defeat so easily? What was he waiting for?

Ji Zi's brow also furrowed slightly. As his palm prints landed on Ye Fan one by one, he could feel that Ye Fan was enduring, tolerating, and waiting. Waiting for what?

A sense of unease rose in his heart.

Ye Fan opened his eyes.

In that instant, a dazzling light erupted from his eyes. He stopped trying to capture Ji Zi's position or chase his figure. He was simply waiting—waiting for the moment Ji Zi struck.

Every time he shuttled through the Void Realm, Ji Zi would pause for a split second at the landing point the moment he struck. That moment was extremely short, so short that an ordinary person couldn't possibly react. But that moment was his only flaw.

Ji Zi's palm print struck again.

Ye Fan didn't dodge or parry. He charged forward.

The palm print slammed into his chest, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. But he didn't retreat; instead, he used this force to rush forward. In that moment, his speed reached the extreme, like a bolt of golden lightning, instantly closing the distance between him and Ji Zi.

Ji Zi's pupils suddenly constricted.

He wanted to retreat and dive back into the Void Realm, but it was already too late. Ye Fan's fist had already reached his face.

The golden fist light illuminated his face.

"Bang—!"

Ji Zi crossed his arms, forcefully blocking the punch. His body slid back several dozen feet, his feet carving two deep grooves into the Arena.

He raised his head and looked at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan stood there with blood at the corner of his mouth and a clear palm print on his chest. But his eyes were bright—startlingly bright.

"Caught you," he said softly.

Ji Zi looked at him and remained silent for a moment. Then, he smiled.

"Impressive."

He flexed his wrist and shook his somewhat numb arms. "I underestimated you. Your battle instinct is even stronger than I imagined."

Ye Fan didn't speak, only watching him.

Ji Zi took a deep breath, and the Aura around him began to change.

It was an Aura completely different from before—steady and heavy, like a towering mountain.

"However, it won't be so easy from now on."

He raised his hand, fingers spread, and slowly clenched them toward Ye Fan.

Void Great Handprint.

A pitch-black giant hand emerged from the Void Realm, blotting out the sky as it pressed down toward Ye Fan.

The giant hand covered half the Arena, its palm lines like mountains and fingertips like sharp swords. Wherever it passed, the Void Realm distorted and the air exploded.

Ye Fan looked up at the giant hand, his eyes devoid of any fear.

He clenched his fist, condensing all the power within his body into this single punch. Golden fist light soared into the sky like a small sun, illuminating the entire Arena.

"Boom—!!!"

Fist and palm collided, erupting in an earth-shattering roar. The shockwave spread in all directions, and the Formation runes on the Arena flashed frantically, doing their best to maintain the Arena's stability.

The Disciples standing at the edge of the Arena were shaken back repeatedly, and some even slumped directly to the ground.

The dust cleared.

Ye Fan stood in place, his feet deeply embedded in the Arena floor. His fist was dripping blood and his mouth was bleeding, but the Battle Intent in his eyes was even stronger.

Ji Zi also stood in place, similarly panting and bleeding. He looked at Ye Fan with a trace of a smile on his lips.

"Again!"

This time, he no longer used the Great Void Technique to maneuver around.

He took the initiative to charge at Ye Fan and struck with a palm.

Ye Fan met him head-on and threw a punch.

"Bang!"

Fist and palm collided, and both men retreated simultaneously.

Ji Zi stabilized himself and charged again. Another palm.

Ye Fan also charged forward. Another punch.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang—"

The sounds of dense collisions exploded on the Arena like the beating of war drums. Neither of them used any more Secret Techniques or fancy Moves; it was the purest and most direct collision of power.

Fist to flesh, palm to bone.

Ye Fan's fist slammed into Ji Zi's shoulder, and Ji Zi's palm struck Ye Fan's chest.

Ye Fan kicked toward Ji Zi's abdomen, but Ji Zi sidestepped it and countered with a palm to Ye Fan's side. They fought from the center of the Arena to the edge, then back to the center again.

Wherever they passed, deep footprints were stamped into the Arena floor, and cracks spread like spiderwebs.